Pressure Relief Valve and High Pressure Pump with Such Valve

ABSTRACT

A valve member of a pressure relief valve has a shaft portion, a pressure receiving portion, and a guide portion, wherein the valve member is axially movable in a fuel return passage. When a forward end of the shaft portion is seated on a valve seta, the fuel return passage is closed, while the shaft portion is separated from the valve seat the fuel return passage is opened. A notched portion is formed at an outer wall of the guide portion to thereby form an outer-surface passage. A fuel inlet port is formed in the valve member for communicating a fuel inlet chamber to the fuel return passage at a downstream side of the valve member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No.2010-147695 filed on Jun. 29, 2010, and No. 2011-016967 filed on Jan.28, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pressure relief valve provided in afuel supply system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engineand further relates to a high pressure pump using such pressure reliefvalve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a conventional fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine,a high pressure pump is provided for pressurizing fuel. The fuelpressurized by the high pressure pump is supplied to a delivery pipe andaccumulated therein. The high pressure fuel is then injected intorespective cylinders of the engine via injectors connected to thedelivery pipe.

The fuel supply system and the high pressure pump are disclosed, forexample, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-138062, and anInternational Patent Publication No. 2002-515565 (publication inJapanese). According to the above prior arts, a pressure relief valve isprovided in a fuel supply system in order to avoid the followingsituation. Namely, when any malfunction occurs in controlling the highpressure pump, fuel pressure in the delivery pipe may become excessivelyhigh and the injectors become unable to perform fuel injectionoperation. And the delivery pipe may be damaged by such excessively highfuel pressure. The pressure relief valve is provided in a fuel returnpassage, which is connected between a high-pressure side fuel passageand a low-pressure side fuel passage. The high-pressure side fuelpassage corresponds to a passage formed at a downstream side of a fueldischarge valve, which discharges a high pressure fuel pressurized by afuel pressurizing chamber of the high pressure pump. The low-pressureside passage corresponds to a passage formed at an upstream side of thefuel discharge valve. The pressure relief valve is opened, when adifferential pressure between the high-pressure side fuel passage andthe fuel pressurizing chamber becomes higher than a predeterminedpressure set by the pressure relief valve, so as to decrease the fuelpressure in the high-pressure side fuel passage.

According to the pressure relief valve (JP 2004-138062), a valve memberis formed in a ball shape. Therefore, a force of flowing fuel (a dynamicpressure of the fuel) may not be sufficiently applied to the valvemember when the pressure relief valve is opened. It would need a certaintime period, during which the valve member is lifted from (separatedfrom) a valve seat by a sufficient amount of stroke. It is, therefore,difficult to quickly decrease the fuel pressure in the high-pressureside fuel passage. Then, it may happen that the fuel pressure in thedelivery pipe becomes higher than a fuel pressure for enabling the fuelinjection operation by the injectors. In addition, the delivery pipe maybe damaged.

According to the pressure relief valve, for example, as shown in FIG. 1of JP 2002-515565, a valve member has a column shaped shaft portionextending from a forward end (a valve seat side) in an axial directionof a fuel return passage, a conical portion extending from a rear end ofthe column shaped shaft in a radial outward direction, and a guideportion extending from an outer periphery of the conical portion in theaxial direction, the guide portion sliding on an inner surface of thefuel return passage. A flow restricting element is further provided atan upstream side of the valve seat for controlling fuel flow. Accordingto the above structure, the dynamic pressure of the fuel may not beeffectively applied to the conical portion at the valve opening time ofthe pressure relief valve. It would need a certain time period forsufficiently opening the pressure relief valve. Therefore, it may bedifficult to quickly reduce the fuel pressure in the high-pressure sidefuel passage.

In addition, according to the pressure relief valve, as shown in FIG. 3of JP 2002-515565, a flow restricting portion is formed at the conicalportion of the valve member in addition to the flow restricting elementat the upstream side of the valve seat. According to such a structure,it would take a time for the valve member to be seated on the valve seatwhen the pressure relief valve is to be closed, because fuel pressure ina chamber between the flow restricting element at the upstream side ofthe valve seat and the flow restricting portion of the conical portionis applied to the conical portion of the valve member. In a case thatthe pressure relief valve does not surely close the fuel return passage,vibration may be generated in the fuel pressure of the delivery pipe.Furthermore, the pressure relief valve may be re-opened by pressure waveof the fuel, which is transmitted from the high-pressure side passage tothe fuel return passage. Then, the fuel pressure in the delivery pipemay be drastically decreased. It may deteriorate the fuel injection fromthe injectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the above problems. It is anobject of the present invention to provide a pressure relief valve,according to which a differential pressure between a fuel inlet chamberand a fuel passage at a downstream side of a valve member is assuredwhen the pressure relief valve is opened, while the differentialpressure between the fuel inlet chamber and the fuel passage at thedownstream side of the valve member can be quickly decreased when thepressure relief valve is to be closed. It is another object of thepresent invention to provide a high pressure pump having the abovepressure relief valve.

According to a feature of the present invention, for example, as definedin the appended claim 1, in a pressure relief valve for a high pressurepump, a fuel flow from a high pressure side to a low pressure side isallowed but a fuel flow from the low pressure side to the high pressureside is prohibited. The pressure relief valve has; a valve seat formedat an inner wall of a fuel return passage provided between the highpressure side and the low pressure side; a valve member for closing thefuel return passage when the valve member is seated on the valve seat,and for opening the fuel return passage when the valve member isseparated from the valve seat; and a biasing means for biasing the valvemember toward the valve seat at a predetermined biasing force.

The valve member has a shaft portion, a pressure receiving portion, aguide portion, a notched portion and a fuel inlet port.

The shaft portion extends in an axial direction of the fuel returnpassage toward the valve seat, a forward end of the shaft portion beingseated on and/or separated from the valve seat.

The pressure receiving portion extends from a rear end of the shaftportion in a radial outward direction toward an inner wall of the fuelreturn passage, so that a fuel inlet chamber is formed in the fuelreturn passage between the valve seat and the pressure receivingportion.

The guide portion extends from an outer periphery of the pressurereceiving portion in an axial direction of the fuel return passage,which is opposite to a direction toward the valve seat, wherein theguide portion slides on the inner wall of the fuel return passage.

The notched portion is formed at an outer wall of the guide portion soas to form an outer-surface passage for communicating the fuel inletchamber to the fuel return passage at a downstream side of the valvemember.

The fuel inlet port has one end opened at the shaft portion or thepressure receiving portion and another end opened to the fuel returnpassage at the downstream side of the valve member, so that the fuelinlet port communicates the fuel inlet chamber to the fuel returnpassage at the downstream side of the valve member.

When the fuel pressure pumped out from the high pressure pump becomeshigher than a target control value, a differential pressure between ahigh-pressure side fuel passage and a low-pressure side fuel passage maybecome larger than a valve opening pressure of the pressure reliefvalve. Then, the valve member is separated from the valve seat so thatthe fuel flows into the fuel inlet chamber from the fuel passage at anupstream side of the valve seat.

According to the above feature of the invention (the feature of theclaim 1), a size, a shape, an angle and the like of the notched portionsand the fuel inlet ports are properly adjusted so that the differentialpressure is generated between the fuel inlet chamber and the fuelpassage at the downstream of the valve member when the pressure reliefvalve is opened. As a result, the dynamic pressure of the fuel, whichhas entered into the fuel inlet chamber from the fuel passage at theupstream of the valve member, is applied to the pressure receivingportion and the valve member is moved by an appropriate stroke amount ina short time period. In other words, when the stroke amount as well as avalve opening speed of the pressure relief valve is properly adjusted,it becomes possible to return the fuel from the high-pressure side fuelpassage to the low-pressure side fuel passage, wherein a flow amount ofsuch return fuel is equal to or close to a fuel discharge amountsupplied from the fuel pressurizing chamber of the high pressure pump tothe delivery pipe in an operation of a vehicle retreat running.Accordingly, the fuel pressure in the high-pressure side fuel passagecan be quickly reduced.

When the differential pressure between the high-pressure side fuelpassage and the low-pressure side fuel passage becomes smaller than thevalve opening pressure of the pressure relief valve, the valve member ismoving toward the valve seat. In this operation, the fuel in the fuelinlet chamber quickly flows to the fuel return passage at the downstreamside of the valve member through the outer-surface passage and the fuelinlet port. In particular, the fuel inlet port effectively contributesin the quick flow of the fuel from the fuel inlet chamber to thedownstream side of the fuel return passage. The differential pressurebetween the fuel inlet chamber and the fuel passage at the downstream ofthe valve member becomes at once zero or close to zero. It is,therefore, possible to increase a valve closing speed of the valvemember. It is also possible to suppress re-open of the pressure reliefvalve as well as vibration of the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe,which may be caused by the pressure wave generated in the high-pressureside fuel passage. As above, the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe canbe maintained at the predetermined pressure set at the pressure reliefvalve, so that the high pressure fuel can be properly injected from theinjectors.

The high-pressure side fuel passage may include a fuel discharge passageat a downstream side of a valve seat of a discharge valve of the highpressure pump, a high pressure fuel supply pipe between a fuel outlet ofthe high pressure pump and the delivery pipe, and the delivery pipeitself. On the other hand, the low-pressure side fuel passage mayinclude the fuel pressurizing chamber, a fuel supply passage between afuel inlet of the high pressure pump and the fuel pressurizing chamber,a low pressure fuel supply pipe between the high pressure pump and afuel tank, a fuel return pipe for returning an excessive fuel to thefuel tank, and the fuel tank itself.

The valve opening pressure of the pressure relief valve can be set at anoptional value by a biasing force of the spring and so on. For example,the valve opening pressure is set at a value higher than the fuelpressure in the high-pressure side fuel passage at a normal operation ofthe internal combustion engine, but lower than the fuel pressure atwhich the injectors may become unable to carry out fuel injectingoperation.

It is, of course, possible to provide the fuel inlet port at anyoptional position with respect to the notched portion, when viewed thevalve member in an axial direction thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a relevant portion ofa pressure relief valve according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the pressure relief valve is in a valve closedcondition;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system, to which thepressure relief valve of the first embodiment of the present inventionis applied;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a high pressure pumphaving the pressure relief valve of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view, including a partial cross sectionalview, when viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a relevant portion ofa pressure relief valve according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the pressure relief valve is in a valve openedcondition;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the pressure relief valve when viewed in adirection indicated by an arrow VI in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a characteristic chart showing a basic operation of thepressure relief valve of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a characteristic chart comparing operations of the pressurerelief valve of the present invention and a pressure relief valve of acomparative example;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a relevant portion ofa pressure relief valve according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the pressure relief valve of the secondembodiment when viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a relevant portionof a pressure relief valve according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the pressure relief valve of the thirdembodiment when viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow XII in FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a relevant portionof a pressure relief valve according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic top plan view showing a pressure relief valveaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic top plan view showing a pressure relief valveaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic top plan view showing a pressure relief valveaccording to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic top plan view showing a pressure relief valveaccording to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic top plan view showing a pressure relief valveaccording to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be explained by way of multiple embodimentswith reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

A pressure relief valve according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure relief valve 50 of the presentembodiment is provided in a high pressure pump 10 used for a fuel supplysystem 1 of an internal combustion engine. In the fuel supply system 1,fuel drawn up by a low pressure pump 3 from a fuel tank 2 is supplied toa fuel supply passage 100 of the high pressure pump 10 via a lowpressure fuel supply pipe 6. The high pressure pump 10 pressurizes thefuel, which is supplied into a fuel pressurizing chamber 121 via thefuel supply passage 100, by a reciprocal movement of a plunger 13 in itsaxial direction, so as to pump out the pressurized fuel via a dischargepassage 114. The high pressure fuel pumped out from the dischargepassage 114 is supplied to a delivery pipe 4 via a high pressure fuelsupply pipe 9. The high pressure fuel is injected into respectivecylinders of the internal combustion engine from each of fuel injectors5 connected to the delivery pipe 4.

A fuel return passage 60 connects the discharge passage 114 and the fuelpressurizing chamber 121 of the high pressure pump 10 with each other.The pressure relief valve 50 is provided in the fuel return passage 60.The pressure relief valve 50 is opened when a pressure differencebetween fuel pressure in the discharge passage 114 and fuel pressure inthe fuel pressurizing chamber 121 becomes larger than a predeterminedvalue, so that a part of the fuel flows from the discharge passage 114into the fuel pressurizing chamber 121.

A structure of the high pressure pump 10 will be explained withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The high pressure pump 10 has a pump body 11, the plunger 13, apulsation damper 210, a fuel intake valve unit 30, the pressure reliefvalve 50 and so on.

A cylinder 14 is formed in the pump body 11. The plunger 13 is movablyaccommodated in the cylinder 14 in a reciprocating manner in its axialdirection, so that the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 is formed at anupper end of the plunger 13. A spring holder 18 is attached to a lowerend of the plunger 13, which is an end on an opposite side to the fuelpressurizing chamber 121. A spring 19 is provided between the springholder 18 and an oil seal holder 25 (explained below). One end of thespring 19 is engaged with the oil seal holder 25, while the other endthereof is engaged with the spring holder 18, so that the spring 19applies an expanding force to them in the axial direction. As a result,the lower end of the plunger 13 is brought into contact with a camformed on a cam shaft 7 via a tappet 8 (FIG. 2), so that the plunger 13is reciprocated in the axial direction. A volume of the fuelpressurizing chamber 121 is changed due to the reciprocal movement ofthe plunger 13, to thereby pressurize the fuel and pump out the fuel.

A damping chamber 201 is formed in the pump body 11. The damping chamber201 is communicated to a fuel inlet (not shown) via a fuel passage (notshown). The fuel inlet is connected to the low pressure fuel supply pipe6 (FIG. 2), so that the fuel from the fuel tank 2 is supplied into thedamping chamber 201 from the fuel inlet through the fuel passage. Thepulsation damper 210 is provided in the damping chamber 201 in order todecrease pulsation of the fuel pressure. The pulsation damper 210 issupported by a pair of supporting members 211 and 212, which are pushedinto a recessed portion 202 of the damping chamber 201 by elastic forceof a wave-shaped blade spring 213.

The fuel intake valve unit 30 is composed of a valve body 31, an intakevalve member 35, a valve stopper 40 and an electromagnetic drivingportion 70.

A fuel intake passage 151 is formed in the pump body 11 in such a mannerthat an axial line of the fuel intake passage 151 is almostperpendicular to a center axial line of the cylinder 14. One end of thefuel intake passage 151 is communicated to the fuel pressurizing chamber121, while the other end thereof is communicated to the damping chamber201 through a fuel communication passage 111. The valve body 31 is fixedto the fuel intake passage 151 at a side of the fuel pressurizingchamber 121. An intake valve seat 34, which is in a concave taperedshape, is formed in the valve body 31 at the side of the fuelpressurizing chamber 121.

The intake valve member 35 provided in an inside of the valve body 11 isguided by a through-hole 32 formed in the valve body 31 and reciprocatedin the axial direction. A sealing surface, which is in a convex taperedshape, is formed in the intake valve member 35, so that the sealingsurface is brought into contact with the intake valve seat 34.

The valve stopper 40 is fixed to an inner wall surface of the valve body31 for restricting a movement of the intake valve member 35 in aright-hand direction (that is, a valve opening direction). A recessedchamber 41 is formed in the valve stopper 40, which is opened toward theintake valve member 35, for accommodating a spring 21 (a valve-body sidespring). The valve-body side spring 21 biases the intake valve member 35toward the intake valve seat 34, that is, a valve closing direction.

Multiple inclined fuel passages 102 are formed in the valve stopper 40,wherein the fuel passages 102 are inclined with respect to the axialline of the valve stopper 40. The fuel, which is supplied into the fuelintake passage 151 from the damping chamber 201 through the fuelcommunication passage 111, flows into the fuel pressurizing chamber 121through the inclined fuel passages 102 when the intake valve member 35is moved to a valve opened position during a fuel intake stroke of thehigh pressure pump 10.

A fuel supply passage 100 is composed of the fuel passage (not shown)for connecting the fuel inlet (not shown) to the damping chamber 201,the damping chamber 201, the fuel communication passage 111, the fuelintake passage 151 and the inclined fuel passages 101.

The electromagnetic driving portion 70 is composed of a coil 71, a fixedcore 72, a movable core 73 and so on. The coil 71 is wound on a spool 78made of resin. The fixed core 72 is made of magnetic material andprovided in an inside of the spool 78. The movable core 73 is also madeof magnetic material and movably provided at an axial side of the fixedcore 72 to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121, so that the movable core73 is movable in a reciprocating manner in the axial direction.

A spring (a coil side spring) 22 is provided between the fixed core 72and the movable core 73. The coil side spring 22 biases the movable core73 toward the fuel pressurizing chamber 121, that is, a valve openingdirection of the intake valve member 35, wherein a biasing force of thecoil side spring 22 is larger than that of the valve-body side spring21.

The electromagnetic driving portion 70 is fixed to the pump body 11 by ahousing member 75 for closing an open end of the fuel intake passage151, which is formed on a side of the pump body 11 opposite to the fuelpressurizing chamber 121.

A needle 38 is formed in a column shape and movably supported in athrough-hole 76 formed in the housing member 75, so that the needle 38is movable in a reciprocating manner in the axial direction. One end ofthe needle 38 is fixed to the movable core 73, while the other endthereof is in contact with the intake valve member 35.

When no electric power is supplied to the coil 71, the movable core 73and the needle 38 fixed thereto push the intake valve member 35 by thecoil side spring 22 in the right hand direction to open a fuel intakevalve (35).

When the electric power is supplied to the coil 71 via a terminal 74 ofa connector 77, the coil 71 generates magnetic field so that magneticflux flows in a magnetic circuit formed by the fixed core 72, themovable core 73 and the housing member 75. As a result, the movable core73 is attracted toward the fixed core 72 against the spring force of thecoil side spring 22. Therefore, the needle 38 fixed to the movable core73 is moved in the left hand direction toward the fixed core 72 to closethe fuel intake valve (35).

A fuel discharge valve unit 90 is composed of a discharge valve member92, a limiting member 93, a discharge valve side spring 94 and so on.

A fuel discharge passage 114 is formed in the pump body 11 at a side ofthe fuel pressurizing chamber 121 opposite to the fuel intake passage151. A fuel outlet 91 is communicated to the fuel pressurizing chamber121 through the fuel discharge passage 114.

The discharge valve member 92 is formed in a cylindrical shape having aclosed end and movably accommodated in the fuel discharge passage 114 toreciprocate therein. When the discharge valve member 92 is seated on avalve seat 95, which is formed in an inner wall of the fuel dischargepassage 114, the fuel discharge passage 114 is closed, while thedischarge valve member 92 is separated from the valve seat 95, the fueldischarge passage 114 is opened.

The limiting member 93 is fixed to the inner wall of the fuel dischargepassage 114. One end of the discharge valve side spring 94 is engagedwith the limiting member 93, while the other end thereof is engaged withthe discharge valve member 92, so as to bias the discharge valve member92 toward the valve seat 95.

The discharge valve member 92 is separated from the valve seat 95, whena valve opening force applied to the discharge valve member 92 by thefuel pressure from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 becomes larger thana valve closing force, which is a sum of fuel pressure by the fuel inthe fuel discharge passage 114 (at a downstream side of the valve seat95) and a spring biasing force of the discharge valve side spring 94. Asa result, the fuel from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 is pumped outto the outside of the high pressure pump 10 from the fuel outlet 91 viathe fuel discharge passage 114.

On the other hand, the discharge valve member 92 is seated on the valveseat 95, when the valve opening force applied to the discharge valvemember 92 by the fuel pressure from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121becomes smaller than the valve closing force, which is the sum of fuelpressure by the fuel in the fuel discharge passage 114 and the springbiasing force of the discharge valve side spring 94. As a result, it ispossible to prevent the fuel in the fuel discharge passage 114 fromflowing back into the fuel pressurizing chamber 121.

A volume variable chamber 122 will be explained.

The plunger 13 has a large-diameter portion 133 on a side to the fuelpressurizing chamber 121 and a small-diameter portion 131 on a sideopposite to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121. A stepped surface portion132 is formed between the large-diameter and the small-diameter portions133 and 131.

An upper end surface of a plunger stopper 23 is in contact with a lowerend surface of the pump body 11 (more exactly, a lower end of thecylinder 14 thereof). A through-hole 233, which extends in a thicknessdirection of the plunger stopper 23, is formed at a center of theplunger stopper 23. The small-diameter portion 131 of the plunger 13 isinserted through the through-hole 233. A circular shaped recessedportion 231, which is recessed in a downward direction (in a directionopposite to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121), is formed at an upperside of the plunger stopper 23. In addition, a grooved passage 232 isformed at the upper side of the plunger stopper 23. The grooved passage232 extends in a radial direction from the recessed portion 231 to acircumferential end of the plunger stopper 23.

An annular recessed portion 105 is formed in a lower side of the pumpbody 11 at an outer wall of the cylinder 14, wherein the annularrecessed portion 105 is upwardly recessed toward the fuel pressurizingchamber 121. The oil seal holder 25 is inserted into the recessedportion 105. The small-diameter portion 131 of the plunger 13 isinserted through a through-hole 251 formed in the oil seal holder 25.The plunger stopper 23 and a fuel seal member 24 are interposed betweenthe lower end surface of the pump body 11 and the oil seal holder 25.The oil seal holder 25 is fixed to an inner wall of the annular recessedportion 105 of the pump body 11.

The fuel seal member 24 restricts a thickness of an oil film of the fuelaround the small-diameter portion 131 and suppresses a leakage of thefuel to the internal combustion engine, which may be caused by areciprocating operation of the plunger 13. An oil seal member 26 isattached to a lower side of the oil seal holder 25, which is a side ofthe oil seal holder 25 opposite to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121.The oil seal member 26 restricts likewise a thickness of an oil film oflubricating oil around the small-diameter portion 131 and suppresses aleakage of the lubricating oil to the internal combustion engine, whichmay be caused by the reciprocating operation of the plunger 13.

The volume variable chamber 122 is formed by the stepped surface portion132, an outer wall of the small-diameter portion 131, an inner wall ofthe cylinder 14, the recessed portion 231, and a space surrounded by thefuel seal member 24.

A tube-shaped fuel passage 106 and an annular fuel passage 107communicated to the tube-shaped fuel passage 106 are formed between theoil seal holder 25 and the pump body 11. The tube-shaped fuel passage106 is communicated with the grooved passage 232 of the plunger stopper23. The annular fuel passage 106 is communicated to the damping chamber201 through a return path 108 formed in the pump body 11. Therefore, thevolume variable chamber 122 is communicated to the damping chamber 201through the grooved passage 232, the tube-shaped fuel passage 106, theannular fuel passage 107 and the return path 108.

A volume of the volume variable chamber 122 is changed in accordancewith the reciprocal movement of the plunger 13. When the plunger 13 isupwardly moved during a fuel amount adjusting stroke, the volume of thefuel pressurizing chamber 121 is decreased, while the volume of thevolume variable chamber 122 is increased. About 60% of the low pressurefuel, which is discharged from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 to thedamping chamber 201, is sucked into the volume variable chamber 122 fromthe damping chamber 201. As a result, the pulsation of the fuel pressurecan be reduced by 60%.

When the plunger 13 is downwardly moved during the fuel intake stroke,the volume of the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 is increased, while thevolume of the volume variable chamber 122 is decreased. About 60% of thefuel, which is sucked into the fuel pressurizing chamber 121, issupplied from the volume variable chamber 122, while the remaining 40%of the fuel is supplied from the fuel inlet (not shown). As a result,fuel sucking efficiency of the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 isimproved.

The pressure relief valve 50 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1and 4 to 6.

A fuel return passage 60 is provided in the pump body 11 in a planeperpendicular to a center axis of the cylinder 14. The fuel returnpassage 60 is composed of a first fuel return passage 61 (adischarge-valve side return passage), which communicates a cylindricalspace 63 formed in the pump body 11 to the discharge passage 114 at adownstream side of the valve seat 95, and a second fuel return passage62 (a pressurizing-chamber side return passage), which communicates thecylindrical space 63 to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121. Thecylindrical space 63 is closed by a plug member 80. Accordingly, thefuel return passage 60 (61, 62) communicates the fuel pressurizingchamber 121 to the discharge passage 114 at a position between the valveseat 95 and the fuel outlet 91.

The pressure relief valve 50 is composed of a valve member 51, anadjusting pipe 81, a spring 82 and so on.

The valve member 51 is movably provided in the fuel return passage 60 sothat the valve member 51 is reciprocal in the fuel return passage 60. Avalve seat 64, which is in a concave tapered shape, is formed at aninner wall of the fuel return passage 60 on a side closer to thedischarge passage 114. A valve sealing surface 52, which is in a convextapered shape, is formed at a forward end of the valve member 51. Thefuel return passage 60 is closed when the valve sealing surface 52 isseated on the valve seat 64, while the fuel return passage 60 is openedwhen the valve sealing surface 52 is separated from the valve seat 64.

The valve member 51 has a shaft portion 53 extending from the valvesealing surface 52 in an axial downstream direction of the fuel returnpassage 60 (in a downward direction in FIG. 5), a pressure receivingportion 54 extending from a downstream end (a rear end) of the shaftportion 53 in a radial outward direction toward an inner peripheralsurface of the fuel return passage 60, a guide portion 55 extending froman outer periphery of the pressure receiving portion 54 in an axialdownstream direction (that is, a direction opposite to the valve sealingsurface 52), and so on. Those portions (53, 54 and 55) are integrallyformed.

The shaft portion 53 is formed in a column shape. The pressure receivingportion 54 is formed by a flat surface perpendicular to an axis of theshaft portion 53. The guide portion 55 is formed in a tubular shape,wherein an outer diameter thereof is made to be slightly smaller than aninner diameter of the fuel return passage 60. Accordingly, the guideportion 55 may slide on an inner wall of the fuel return passage 60 andaxially reciprocate. A recessed portion 56, which is opened to the fuelreturn passage 60 in a downstream direction, is formed in an inside ofthe guide portion 55.

The valve member 51 has a pair of notched portions 57 at an outersurface of the guide portion 55. The notched portions 57 are formed atopposite sides in a radial direction, so that a distance between thenotched portions 57 is smaller than an outer diameter of the guideportion 55. The notched portions 57 are formed by flat surfaces at theouter surface of the guide portion 55. As a result, outer-surfacepassages 65 are respectively formed between the notched portions 57 andthe inner surface of the fuel return passage 60.

A communication hole 58 is formed in the valve member 51 at each of thenotched portions 57, so that the outer-surface passage 65 and an insidepassage of the recessed portion 56 are communicated to each other viathe communication hole 58.

A fuel inlet chamber 66 is formed in the fuel return passage 60 betweenthe valve seat 64 and the pressure receiving portion 54. The fuel inletchamber 66 extends from the shaft portion 53 in a radial direction andthe fuel flows into the fuel inlet chamber 66 from the valve seat 64when the pressure relief valve 50 is opened. A dynamic pressure of thefuel flowing into the fuel inlet chamber 66 is applied to the pressurereceiving portion 54. A cross sectional area of the outer-surfacepassage 65 is set by the notched portion 57. A desired differentialpressure, which is generated between the fuel inlet chamber 66 and theinside passage of the recessed portion 56 when the pressure relief valve50 is opened, is achieved by adjusting the cross sectional area of theouter-surface passage 65. As a result, it is possible to control a valveopening speed and a valve stroke of the valve member 5

The valve member 51 has a pair of fuel inlet ports 59, each one end ofwhich (an upper end in FIG. 5) is opened at the pressure receivingportion 54 and each other end of which is opened at the inner wall ofthe recessed portion 56. Each fuel inlet port 59 is inclined toward acenter axis of the valve member 51. The upper end of the fuel inlet port59 is opened at the pressure receiving portion 54 at a sharp angle,which is preferably less than 60 degrees, or more preferably less than45 degrees.

When viewed the valve member 51 from the top side (as shown in FIG. 6),the fuel inlet ports 59 are arranged at opposite sides to each other ina radial direction and displaced from the notched portions 57 in acircumferential direction by 90 degrees. A position of the fuel inletport 59 with respect to the notched portion 57 may be discretionary.

The adjusting pipe 81 is fixed to the inner wall of the fuel returnpassage 60 on a side of the valve member 51 to the plug member 80. Oneend (an upper end) of a spring 82 is engaged with the valve member 51,while the other end thereof is engaged with the adjusting pipe 81. Sincethe fuel inlet port 59 is inclined with respect to the center axis ofthe valve member 51, interference between the fuel inlet port 59 and theupper end of the spring 82 can be avoided. The valve member 51 is biasedby the spring 82 toward the valve seat 64. The adjusting pipe 81 ispress inserted into the fuel return passage 60 and a load to the spring82 is adjusted.

According to the present embodiment, the load to the spring 82, an areaof the pressure receiving portion 54 and a size of the notched portion57 are so designed that the pressure relief valve 50 is operated(opened) at such a pressure range, which is higher than fuel pressure inthe delivery pipe 4 for normal operation of the internal combustionengine but lower than fuel pressure, at which the electromagneticinjectors 5 become unable to perform fuel injection.

An operation of the high pressure pump 10 will be explained. The highpressure pump 10 repeatedly caries out a fuel intake stroke, a fuelamount adjusting stroke and a fuel discharge stroke.

(1) Fuel Intake Stroke:

When the plunger 13 is downwardly moved from its top dead center towarda bottom dead center, the fuel pressure in the fuel pressurizing chamber121 is decreased. During this stroke, since the supply of the electricpower to the coil 71 is cut off, the intake valve member 35 is moved tothe valve opened position. Therefore, the fuel supply passage 100 is,communicated to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121. On the other hand,the discharge valve member 92 is seated on the valve seat 95, so thatthe fuel discharge passage 114 is closed. As a result, the fuel issucked into the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 from the fuel supplypassage 100.

(2) Fuel Amount Adjusting Stroke:

When the plunger 13 is upwardly moved from the bottom dead center towardthe top dead center, non-supply condition of the electric power to thecoil 71 is maintained for a certain time period, so that the valveopened condition of the intake valve member 35 is maintained. As aresult, a part of the low pressure fuel is returned from the fuelpressurizing chamber 121 to the damping chamber 201 via the fuel intakepassage 151 and the fuel communication passage 111.

When the power supply to the coil 71 is started at a predetermined timepoint during the fuel amount adjusting stroke, the coil 71 generates themagnetic field. Then, the movable core 73 as well as the needle 38 fixedto the movable core 73 is moved toward the fixed core 72 by magneticforce. As a result, the intake valve member 35 is seated on the valveseat 34 by the biasing force of the valve-body side spring 21 as well asa force generated by the fuel flow of the low pressure fuel, which flowsfrom the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 to the damping chamber 201.

When the intake valve member 35 is moved to the valve closed position,the fuel flow in the fuel supply passage 100 is shut off. Accordingly,the fuel amount adjusting stroke, in which the part of the low pressurefuel is returned from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 to the dampingchamber 201, is terminated. In other words, the amount of the lowpressure fuel returned from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 to thedamping chamber 201 can be controlled by adjusting the time point forstarting the electric power supply to the coil 71. As a result, theamount of the fuel to be pressurized in the fuel pressurizing chamber121 is decided.

(3) Fuel Discharge Stroke:

When the plunger 13 is further upwardly moved toward the top dead centerin a condition that the communication between the fuel pressurizingchamber 121 and the damping chamber 201 is shut off, the fuel pressurein the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 will be increased. When the fuelpressure in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 becomes higher than apredetermined value, the discharge valve member 92 is moved in the valveopening direction against the biasing force of the spring 94 and thepressure of the fuel in the fuel discharge passage 114. Then, the highpressure fuel pressurized in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 is pumpedout from the high pressure pump 10 via the fuel discharge passage 114.The high pressure fuel from the high pressure pump 10 is supplied to thedelivery pipe 4 and accumulated therein. The high pressure fuel isinjected into the respective cylinders of the engine through each of theinjectors 5.

When the plunger 13 reaches its top dead center, the power supply to thecoil 71 is cut off, so that the intake valve member 35 is moved to thevalve opened position. The plunger 13 is moved downwardly again, andthereby the fuel pressure in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 becomeslower to start the fuel intake stroke again.

As above, the strokes (1) to (3) are repeated and the high pressure pump10 pumps out the sucked fuel. In a normal operating condition, thepressure relief valve 50 is maintained in its valve closed condition,unless the differential pressure between the fuel discharge passage 114and the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 becomes higher than thepredetermined value (a valve opening pressure for the pressure reliefvalve 50). A pressure wave of the high pressure fuel, which is pumpedout from the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 as a result of the valveopening operation of the discharge valve member 92, is transmitted to aninlet portion of the delivery pipe 4 via the high pressure fuel supplypipe 9, reflected at the inlet portion and overlaid.

A basic operation of the pressure relief valve according to the presentembodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, thehigh pressure pump 10 is operating in a maximum pump-out condition.

As shown in (A) of FIG. 7, when the cam shaft 7 is rotated by 60degrees, in other words, when a cam angle is changed from 0° to 60°, acam lift amount is increased from 0 mm to 6 mm. The plunger 13 is movedfrom the bottom dead center to the top dead center in accordance withthe above rotation of the camshaft 7, so as to carry out the fueldischarge stroke. When the cam shaft 7 is further rotated from 60° to120°, the cam lift amount is decreased from 6 mm to 0 mm. The plunger 13is moved from the top dead center to the bottom dead center inaccordance with the rotation of the camshaft 7, to thereby carry out thefuel intake stroke.

As shown in (B) of FIG. 7, the fuel pressure “Pc” in the delivery pipe 4is increased from about 20 (MPa) to about 24 (MPa) during the fueldischarge stroke. The fuel pressure “Pc” in the delivery pipe 4 isdecreased from about 24 (MPa) to about 20 (MPa) during the fuel intakestroke. The fuel pressure in the delivery pipe 4 when the fuel injectionis carried out from the injectors 5 is indicated by a dotted line.

As shown in (C) of FIG. 7, since the discharge valve member 92 is in thevalve opened position during the fuel discharge stroke, the fuelpressure “Pk” in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 is almost equal tothe fuel pressure “Pv” in the fuel discharge passage 114.

The fuel pressure “Pk” in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 is decreasedby the downward movement of the plunger 13 during the fuel intakestroke. On the other hand, the fuel pressure “Pv” in the fuel dischargepassage 114 becomes higher than the fuel pressure “Pk” in the fuelpressurizing chamber 121, because the discharge valve member 92 is movedto the valve closed position during the fuel intake stroke. Pressurewaves of the fuel, which may be caused by the high pressure pumped-outfuel, appear in the fuel discharge passage 114, as indicated by “R” and“S”. The pressure relief valve 50 is opened at the cam angle of “θ1”during the fuel intake stroke, then the fuel pressure “Pv” in the fueldischarge passage 114 starts decreasing.

As shown in (D) of FIG. 7, a differential pressure between the fuelpressure “Pk” in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 and the fuel pressure“Pv” in the fuel discharge passage 114 is substantially zero during thefuel discharge stroke, because the discharge valve member 92 is in thevalve opened position during the fuel discharge stroke.

The differential pressure (“Pv”−“Pk”) between the fuel pressure “Pk” inthe fuel pressurizing chamber 121 and the fuel pressure “Pv” in the fueldischarge passage 114 becomes larger than the valve opening pressure forthe pressure relief valve 50 at the cam angle of “θ1” during the fuelintake stroke. When the pressure relief valve 50 is opened, a part ofthe high pressure fuel in the fuel discharge passage 114 flows into thefuel pressurizing chamber 121 through the pressure relief valve 50. As aresult, the differential pressure (“Pv”−“Pk”) between the fuel pressure“Pk” in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 and the fuel pressure “Pv” inthe fuel discharge passage 114 is decreased.

As shown in (E) of FIG. 7, when the differential pressure (“Pv”−“Pk”)between the fuel pressure “Pk” in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 andthe fuel pressure “Pv” in the fuel discharge passage 114 becomes largerthan the valve opening pressure for the pressure relief valve 50 at thecam angle of “θ1”, the pressure relief valve 50 starts its valve openingoperation. When the dynamic pressure of the fuel flowing into the fuelinlet chamber 66 is applied to the pressure receiving portion 54, avalve opening speed of the valve member 51 is increased. At a cam angle“θ2”, the valve member 51 of the pressure relief valve 50 is fully movedand brought into contact with the adjusting pipe 81.

When the differential pressure (“Pv”−“Pk”) between the fuel pressure“Pk” in the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 and the fuel pressure “Pv” inthe fuel discharge passage 114 becomes smaller than a valve closingpressure for the pressure relief valve 50 at a cam angle “θ3”, thepressure relief valve 50 starts its valve closing operation. The fuel inthe fuel inlet chamber 66 quickly flows into the fuel return passage ata downstream side of the valve member 51 via the outer-surface passages65 and the fuel inlet ports 59. As a result, a differential pressurebetween the fuel inlet chamber 66 and the fuel return passage at thedownstream side of the valve member 51 is quickly changed to zero, orclose to zero. A valve closing speed is thereby increased. The valvemember 51 is seated on the valve seat 64 at a cam angle “θ4”.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is opened, the fuel flows from thefuel return passage at the upstream side of the valve seat 64 into thefuel inlet chamber 66 along the valve seat 64, as indicated by arrows Ain FIG. 5. The cross sectional area of the outer-surface passage 65 isso set that a desired differential pressure is generated between thefuel inlet chamber 66 and the fuel return passage 60 at the downstreamside of the valve member 51. The cross sectional area of the fuel inletport 59 is made to be smaller than that of the outer-surface passage 65.The fuel inlet port 59 is formed in the valve member 51 such that a flowdirection of the fuel inlet port 59 is opposed to the flow direction ofthe fuel in the fuel inlet chamber 66. Therefore, the fuel flowing inthe fuel inlet chamber 66 is not likely to flow through the fuel inletport 59. Therefore, the fuel having entered into the fuel inlet chamber66 flows in a radial outward direction on the pressure receiving portion54, to thereby apply the dynamic pressure of the fuel to the pressurereceiving portion 54. As a result, the valve member 51 is moved by anappropriate lift amount in a short time period.

When viewed the valve member 51 in the axial direction, as indicated byarrows F in FIG. 6, the fuel having entered into the fuel inlet chamber66 from the fuel return passage 60 at the upstream side of the valveseat 64 flows toward the outer-surface passages 65. Since the fuel inletports 59 are formed in the valve member 51 at such portions, which aredisplaced from the notched portions 57 in the circumferential direction,the fuel flowing in the fuel inlet chamber 66 hardly flows into the fuelinlet ports 59. As a result, the dynamic pressure of the fuel flowing inthe fuel inlet chamber 66 can be surely applied to the pressurereceiving portion 54. Therefore, the valve member 51 is fully lifted(moved to the opposite end) in a short time period, in order that thefuel flows from the fuel discharge passage 114 to the fuel pressurizingchamber 121.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is going to be closed, the fuel in thefuel inlet chamber 66 flows into the recessed portion 56 through theouter-surface passages 65 as well as the fuel inlet ports 59. The fuelinlet ports 59 allow the fuel to quickly flow into the space at thedownstream of the valve member 51. As a result, a differential pressurebetween the fuel pressure in the fuel inlet chamber 66 and the fuelpressure in the recessed portion 56 (the space at the downstream of thevalve member 51) becomes at once zero or close to zero. As a result, thevalve member 51 is surely seated on the valve seat 64 within the shorttime period, without being blocked by the fuel pressure in the fuelinlet chamber 66. It is, therefore, possible to suppress re-open of thepressure relief valve 50 due to the pressure wave.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic chart comparing operations of the pressurerelief valve 50 of the present invention and a pressure relief valve ofa comparative example, when the electric power is continuously suppliedto the electromagnetic driving portion 70 of the high pressure pump 10and thereby the vehicle is in a retreat running operation in which thehigh pressure pump 10 is operating with its maximum fuel discharge. FIG.8 (A) shows the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe 4, in a case that thepressure relief valve 50 of the present embodiment is provided in thefuel supply system 1, while FIG. 8 (B) shows the fuel pressure in thedelivery pipe, in a case that the pressure relief valve of thecomparative example is provided in the fuel supply system. In thepressure relief valve of the comparative example, fuel inlet ports(corresponding to the fuel inlet ports 59) are not formed.

According to the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), the fuelpressure in the delivery pipe is drastically decreased at a time pointT1. This is because the pressure relief valve might have been re-openedby the pressure wave generated in the discharge passage (114) after thepressure relief valve was once closed. In addition, vibrations aregenerated in the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe during a periodbetween T2 and T3 and a period between T4 and T5.

On the contrary, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8(A), generation of the drastic decrease of the fuel pressure as well asthe vibration of the fuel pressure in the fuel delivery pipe 4 can besuppressed.

According to the present embodiment, the size, the shape, the angle andthe like of the notched portions 57 and the fuel inlet ports 59 areproperly adjusted so that the differential pressure is generated betweenthe fuel inlet chamber 66 and the fuel passage at the downstream of thevalve member 51 when the pressure relief valve 50 is opened. As aresult, the dynamic pressure of the fuel, which has entered into thefuel inlet chamber 66 from the fuel passage at the upstream of the valvemember 51, is applied to the pressure receiving portion 54 and the valvemember 51 is moved by the appropriate stroke amount in the short timeperiod.

A time period, during which the fuel returns from the delivery pipe 4 tothe fuel pressurizing chamber 121 through the pressure relief valve 50,is a limited time period of the fuel intake stroke. The stroke amount aswell as a valve opening speed of the pressure relief valve 50 isadjusted so that a flow amount of the fuel passing through the pressurerelief valve 50 can be fitted to a volume change of the fuelpressurizing chamber 121. It becomes, therefore, possible to return thefuel from the delivery pipe side to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121for one fuel intake stroke, wherein the fuel amount to be returned canbe controlled at such an amount equal to or close to the dischargeamount of one plunger stroke. Accordingly, it is possible to quicklyreturn the fuel from the discharge passage 114 to the fuel pressurizingchamber 121 to thereby smoothly decrease the fuel pressure in thedelivery pipe 4.

According to the present embodiment, the angle formed between the fuelinlet port 59 and the pressure receiving portion 54, which extends fromthe rear end of the shaft portion 53 in a direction perpendicular to theshaft portion 53, is formed as the acute angle, and the fuel inlet ports59 are displaced from the notched portions 57 in the circumferentialdirection. As a result, when the pressure relief valve 50 is opened, thedynamic pressure of the fuel entering into the fuel inlet chamber 66from the fuel passage at the upstream side of the valve seat 64 can besurely applied to the pressure receiving portion 54.

On the other hand, when the pressure relief valve 50 is going to beclosed, the fuel in the fuel inlet chamber 66 flows to the fuel passageat the downstream side of the valve member 51 through the outer-surfacepassages 65 as well the fuel inlet ports 59. In particular, it ispossible to have the fuel in the fuel inlet chamber 66 to quickly flowto the fuel passage at the downstream side of the valve member 51through the fuel inlet ports 59. As a result, a valve closing speed ofthe pressure relief valve 50 is increased, because the movement of thevalve member 51 is not blocked by the fuel pressure in the fuel inletchamber 66. Therefore, the generation of the re-open of the pressurerelief valve 50 as well as the vibration of the fuel pressure in thedelivery pipe 4 can be suppressed. Even in the retreat running operationof the vehicle, it is possible to maintain the fuel pressure in thedelivery pipe 4 at a predetermined pressure, which is set by thepressure relief valve 50, so that the fuel can be properly injected fromthe injectors 5.

Second Embodiment

A pressure relief valve according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

According to the second embodiment, a fuel inlet port 83 of the valvemember 51 is formed in a tapered shape, which has a larger crosssectional area on a side of the pressure receiving portion 54 than thaton a side of the recessed portion 56. A center axis of the fuel inletport 83 is inclined from the pressure receiving portion 54 toward thecenter axis of the valve member 51. An angle formed between the centeraxis of the fuel inlet port 83 and the pressure receiving portion 54 isan acute angle. When viewed the valve member 51 in the axial direction,as shown in FIG. 10, the fuel inlet ports 83 are formed in the valvemember 51 at such portions, which are displaced from the notchedportions 57 in the circumferential direction.

According to the present embodiment, since the cross sectional area ofthe fuel inlet port 83 on the side of the pressure receiving portion 54is larger than that on the side of the recessed portion 56, it is easierfor the fuel in the fuel inlet chamber 66 to flow through the fuel inletport 83 into the fuel passage at the downstream side of the valve member51. Therefore, the movement of the valve member 51 may not be blocked bythe fuel pressure in the fuel inlet chamber 66 and the valve closingspeed of the pressure relief valve 50 is increased.

Third Embodiment

A pressure relief valve according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

According to the present embodiment, one end of a fuel inlet port 84 isopened at the shaft portion 53 of the valve member 51, while the otherend thereof is opened at the inner surface of the recessed portion 56. Acenter axis of the fuel inlet port 84 is inclined from the shaft portion53 toward the center axis of the valve member 51. When viewed the valvemember 51 in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. 12, the fuel inletport 84 is formed in the valve member 51 at such a portion, which isdisplaced from the notched portions 57 in the circumferential direction.More exactly, a direction of the center axis of the fuel inlet port 84is at a right angle to a line connecting the pair of the notchedportions 57 with each other.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is opened, the fuel, which enters intothe fuel inlet chamber 66 from the fuel passage at the upstream side ofthe valve seat 64 and along the valve seat 64, flows in the radialoutward direction to thereby apply the dynamic pressure to the pressurereceiving portion 54. Since one end of the fuel inlet port 84 is openedat the shaft portion 53, the fuel flowing in the fuel inlet chamber 66hardly enters into the fuel inlet port 84. In addition, since the oneend of the fuel inlet port 84 is not opened at the pressure receivingportion 54, the dynamic pressure of the fuel flowing in the fuel inletchamber 66 can be surely applied to the pressure receiving portion 54.Accordingly, the valve member 51 can be moved by the appropriate strokein a short time period.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is going to be closed, the fuel in thefuel inlet chamber 66 will flow into the recessed portion 56 through thefuel inlet port 84. Therefore, the movement of the valve member 51 maynot be blocked by the fuel pressure in the fuel inlet chamber 66 and thevalve closing speed of the pressure relief valve 50 is increased.

Fourth Embodiment

A pressure relief valve according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIG. 13.

According to the present embodiment, an annular projecting wall 85 isformed at an outer periphery of the pressure receiving portion 54,wherein the annular projecting wall 85 projects in an axial direction ofthe valve member 51 toward the valve seat 64. The fuel inlet port 84 isthe same to that in the third embodiment. One end of the fuel inlet port84 is opened at the shaft portion 53 of the valve member 51, while theother end thereof is opened at the inner surface of the recessed portion56.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is opened, the dynamic pressure of thefuel, which enters into the fuel inlet chamber 66 from the fuel passageat the upstream side of the valve seat 64 and along the valve seat 64,is applied to the pressure receiving portion 54 between the shaftportion 53 and the annular projecting wall 85. In addition, since theone end of the fuel inlet port 84 is not opened at the pressurereceiving portion 54, the dynamic pressure of the fuel flowing in thefuel inlet chamber 66 can be surely applied to the pressure receivingportion 54. Accordingly, the valve member 51 can be moved by theappropriate stroke in a short time period.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is going to be closed, the fuel in thefuel inlet chamber 66 will flow into the recessed portion 56 through thefuel inlet port 84. Therefore, the movement of the valve member 51 maynot be blocked by the fuel pressure in the fuel inlet chamber 66 and thevalve closing speed of the pressure relief valve 50 is increased.

Fifth Embodiment

A pressure relief valve according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIG. 14.

According to the present embodiment, each of notched portions 86 isformed by, not a flat surface, but a curved surface at an outer wall ofthe valve member 51. The outer-surface passage 65 is formed between thenotched portion 86 and the inner wall of the fuel return passage 60. Thecommunication holes 58 are formed in the valve member 51 forcommunicating the outer-surface passages 65 with the inside of therecessed portion 56.

Even according to the present embodiment, the cross sectional area ofthe outer-surface passage 65 can be set to adjust the dynamic pressureapplied to the pressure receiving portion 54.

Sixth to Ninth Embodiments

Pressure relief valves according to sixth to ninth embodiments of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18.

According to the sixth to ninth embodiments, the notched portions 57 and86 and the fuel inlet ports 59, 83 and 84 are formed at such positions,which are on the same positions in the circumferential direction.However, the notched portions 57 and 86 and the fuel inlet ports 59, 83and 84 may be formed at such optional positions, which are displacedfrom each other in the circumferential direction of the valve member 51.

Across sectional area of the outer-surface passage 65 formed between theinner wall of the fuel return passage 60 and the notched portion 57 or86 is smaller than that of the fuel inlet port 59, 83 or 84. The size,the shape, the angle and the like of the notched portion 57 or 86 andthe fuel inlet ports 59, 83 or 84 are properly adjusted so that thedifferential pressure is generated between the fuel inlet chamber 66 andthe fuel passage at the downstream of the valve member 51 when thepressure relief valve 50 is opened. As a result, the dynamic pressure ofthe fuel, which has entered into the fuel inlet chamber 66 from the fuelpassage at the upstream of the valve member 51, is surely applied to thepressure receiving portion 54. The valve member 51 can be moved by theappropriate stroke amount in a short time period. In other words, itbecomes possible to increase the valve opening speed of the pressurerelief valve and to control the stroke amount of the valve member. Theflow amount of the fuel passing through the pressure relief valve 50 canbe fitted to the volume change of the fuel pressurizing chamber 121. Itbecomes, therefore, possible to quickly return the fuel from thedelivery pipe side to the fuel pressurizing chamber 121 for one fuelintake stroke, wherein the fuel amount to be returned can be controlledat such an amount equal to or close to the discharge amount of oneplunger stroke. The fuel pressure in the delivery pipe 4 can be quicklyand smoothly reduced.

When the pressure relief valve 50 is going to be closed, the fuel in thefuel inlet chamber 66 will flow into the fuel passage at the downstreamside of the valve member 51 through the outer-surface passage 65 and thefuel inlet port 59, 83 or 84. In particular, it is possible to have thefuel in the fuel inlet chamber 66 to quickly flow to the fuel passage atthe downstream side of the valve member 51 through the fuel inlet port59, 83 or 84. As a result, a differential pressure between the fuelpressure in the fuel inlet chamber 66 and the fuel pressure in therecessed portion 56 becomes at once zero or close to zero. In otherwords, it is possible to increase the valve closing speed of thepressure relief valve. Therefore, the generation of the re-open of thepressure relief valve 50 due to the pressure wave in the dischargepassage as well as the vibration of the fuel pressure in the deliverypipe 4 can be suppressed.

Further Embodiments

According to the first embodiment, the pressure relief valve 50 isprovided in the high pressure pump 10. A fuel return pipe may beprovided between the delivery pipe 4 and the fuel tank 4, and thepressure relief valve 50 may be provided in such fuel return pipe.Alternatively, another fuel return pipe may be provided between the highpressure fuel supply pipe 9 and the fuel supply passage 100 of the highpressure pump 10, and the pressure relief valve 50 may be provided insuch fuel return pipe.

As above, the present invention should not be limited to the aboveexplained embodiments, but the present invention can be modified invarious ways without departing from the spirit of the invention, inaddition to combinations of the above explained embodiments to eachother.

1. A pressure relief valve for a high pressure pump, in which a fuelflow from a high pressure side to a low pressure side is allowed but afuel flow from the low pressure side to the high pressure side isprohibited, comprising: a valve seat formed at an inner wall of a fuelreturn passage provided between the high pressure side and the lowpressure side; a valve member for closing the fuel return passage whenthe valve member is seated on the valve seat, and for opening the fuelreturn passage when the valve member is separated from the valve seat;and a biasing means for biasing the valve member toward the valve seatat a predetermined biasing force, wherein the valve member comprises; ashaft portion extending in an axial direction of the fuel return passagetoward the valve seat, a forward end of the shaft portion being seatedon and/or separated from the valve seat; a pressure receiving portionextending from a rear end of the shaft portion in a radial outwarddirection toward an inner wall of the fuel return passage, so that afuel inlet chamber is formed in the fuel return passage between thevalve seat and the pressure receiving portion; a guide portion extendingfrom an outer periphery of the pressure receiving portion in an axialdirection of the fuel return passage, which is opposite to a directiontoward the valve seat, wherein the guide portion slides on the innerwall of the fuel return passage; a notched portion formed at an outerwall of the guide portion so as to form an outer-surface passage forcommunicating the fuel inlet chamber to the fuel return passage at adownstream side of the valve member; a fuel inlet port having one endopened at the shaft portion or the pressure receiving portion andanother end opened to the fuel return passage at the downstream side ofthe valve member, so that the fuel inlet port communicates the fuelinlet chamber to the fuel return passage at the downstream side of thevalve member.
 2. The pressure relief valve according to the claim 1,wherein a cross sectional area of the fuel inlet port is made to besmaller than that of the outer-surface passage formed by the notchedportion.
 3. The pressure relief valve according to the claim 1, whereinthe pressure receiving portion is formed by a flat surface, whichextends from the rear end of the shaft portion in the radial outwarddirection, and which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the fuelreturn passage.
 4. The pressure relief valve according to the claim 1,wherein the valve member further comprises a communication hole forallowing the fuel to flow from the notched portion into an inside of thevalve member.
 5. The pressure relief valve according to the claim 1,wherein the notched portion is formed by a flat surface at the outerwall of the guide portion of the valve member.
 6. The pressure reliefvalve according to the claim 1, wherein the fuel inlet port is inclinedfrom the one end to the other end in a direction toward a center axis ofthe valve member.
 7. The pressure relief valve according to the claim 1,wherein the valve member has a recessed portion formed at the downstreamside of the valve member, and the other end of the fuel inlet port isopened at an inner surface of the recessed portion.
 8. The pressurerelief valve according to the claim 1, wherein the one end of the fuelinlet port is opened at the shaft portion.
 9. The pressure relief valveaccording to the claim 8, wherein the pressure receiving portion has anannular projecting wall extending from an outer periphery of thepressure receiving portion in the axial direction of the valve membertoward to the valve seat.
 10. The pressure relief valve according to theclaim 1, wherein the fuel inlet port is formed in a tapered shape,wherein a cross sectional area at the one end on an upstream side islarger than that at the other end on a downstream side.
 11. A highpressure pump comprising: a plunger movable in an axial direction in areciprocating manner; a pump body having a fuel pressurizing chamber forpressurizing the fuel in accordance with a reciprocal movement of theplunger; a fuel discharge valve for discharging pressurized fuel fromthe fuel pressurizing chamber; and the pressure relief valve accordingto the claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve is provided between adownstream side and an upstream side of the fuel discharge valve so thatthe pressure relief valve allows fuel flow from the downstream side tothe upstream side of the fuel discharge valve, while fuel flow from theupstream side to the downstream side of the fuel discharge valve isprohibited.